Islington councillor Benali Hamdache has taken Green Mayor of Hackney Zoe Garbett’s seat after her new role forced her to give it up
When it comes to jousting for a sacred place on the London Assembly, Benali Hamdache laments being “forever the bridesmaid, never the bride”.
The Green Party figure has narrowly missed out on a City Hall spot at each of the last three elections in 2016, 2021 and 2024. Having been fifth on the party’s London-wide list two years ago, it looked like the Islington councillor would need to wait until 2028 to try his luck again.
But it was the Green Party’s electoral success at all levels which enabled Mr Hamdache to take his place on the London Assembly last month. Shortly after the May 2024 London Assembly election, Sian Berry, who became the MP for Brighton Pavilion in June, gave up her seat in City Hall to Zoe Garbett, who was fourth on the London-wide list.
Ms Garbett’s subsequent election as the Mayor of Hackney last month meant that – finally – it was Mr Hamdache’s turn.
Housing, Housing, Housing
Sitting alongside Green Party Leader Zack Polanski and veteran politician Caroline Russell, he vowed to continue Ms Garbett’s work in directly holding Sir Sadiq Khan to account – particularly on housing.
“It’s a real honour to be able to step forward, especially after something so joyous as Zoe getting elected as Mayor of Hackney,” he told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).
“It’s a really exciting time for the Green Party and I’m really excited to be part of that team, helping provide an alternative to the Labour Party when sadly this government is so dismal.
“Zoe is a real inspiration to me – she’s worked really hard in the last two years on the London Assembly, fighting for rent controls, speaking out for the underspoken, and challenging the Met Police to do better.
“I’m going to share some of her focuses – the right to protest, the right to a decent home. When we live in a city where 40 per cent of people’s money is going on rent, when 90,000 children are living in temporary accommodation, we have to talk about the fact that the housing market isn’t working for people.
“Right now we’ve got a developer-led model that isn’t working for Londoners. People see luxury flats going up in their communities and their rent isn’t getting cheaper and their hope of getting a social home isn’t happening.
“We have a Labour Mayor and a Labour Government that seem in hock to developers and are making it easier to not provide affordable housing.”
Palantir intervention
Mr Hamdache’s first major intervention in City Hall appeared very well-timed. Shortly after questioning a Met Police representative on the prospective £50million contract with Palantir, he was set to challenge the Mayor of London on the same issue.
During Mayor’s Question Time – as Mr Hamdache was set to take the microphone – reports emerged that Sir Sadiq’s Deputy Mayor for Policing had told the Met that the deal was off – albeit on technical grounds, rather than the moral decision the Greens had hoped to see.
“I’m proud to challenge the Mayor and the Met on those processes and I’m pleased that the Mayor has decided that because of not following processes properly, we’re not going to be working with Palantir in London and I’d urge him to continue,” he said.
At the time, Mr Hamdache suggested City Hall were actually conceding to “the public backlash” and were now “finally listening to the anger and concern felt across London”.
Teammates
Working directly alongside the leader in any party is always seen as a privilege – especially when you’re one of only two politicians able to do so.
While he may not be a London Assembly Member after 2028, for the next two years, Mr Hamdache will work with Mr Polanski to try and hold Sir Sadiq accountable – but it’s just the latest in a long working relationship between the pair.
“I’ve had the privilege to work with Zack for a number of years now,” he said. “I was the campaign manager that helped get him elected on for London Assembly the first time (in 2021).
“He is a team player. He’s thoughtful. He is passionate and he’s a real asset – the reason that we’re talking today about the Green Party is because of the energy Zack Polanski is putting [in] and putting the Green Party on the map.
“It’s a privilege to work with him and I’m excited to carry on that work.”
Mayoral ambitions
It’s no secret that Mr Hamdache wanted the top job in City Hall in 2024, though the party ended up selecting Ms Garbett, who secured almost six per cent of the vote.
Asked if he would have another go, Mr Hamdache said: “It was a real honour to put myself forward two years ago. I’m looking forward to our kind of open and democratic selections.
“It isn’t something I really have considered right now, I’m just kind of getting into the groove of being an Assembly Member and really getting to grips [with] this job which matters so much to Londoners.”
Whoever ends up standing for the Greens will do well though, he claimed, with the party’s performance in last month’s local elections in the capital leaving officials particularly buoyant.
“We’ve had an incredible set of elections – for the first time, six councils are going to be run by the Green Party.
“That’s an unprecedented success. It’s more than the Lib Dems, it’s more than Reform and we’re challenging Labour for that leadership role here in London.
“People are tired of Keir Starmer’s Labour Party selling out promises, not delivering on the promised change and the sleaze surrounding Peter Mandelson. In reality we are here to replace the Labour Party and I’m excited about what we’re going to be doing at the next locals, at the general and at the next mayoral election.”
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